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Knee Problems

ACL Repair
What is it: ACL reconstruction is surgery to rebuild the ligament in the center of your knee with a new ligament. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) keeps your shin bone (tibia) in place. A tear of this ligament can cause your knee to give way during physical activity.

Important Facts: The procedure is usually done by knee arthroscopy. With arthroscopy, a tiny camera is inserted into the knee through a small surgical cut. The camera is connected to a video monitor in the operating room. Your surgeon will use the camera to check the ligaments and other tissues of your knee.

Statistics: Statistics show that more than 60% of patients diagnosed with an ACL tear also have a torn meniscus. Statistics also show that female athletes have a 25% chance of tearing their ACL a second time after having the reconstruction surgery done. The average cost for surgical repair of an ACL tear is approximately $11,500. If all ACL injuries were repaired, the associated expenditure for 100,000 procedures would eclipse $2 billion annually. ACL injury rates are estimated to be 2-8 times higher in women than in men. Not a single report of mortality was found in 6 different studies examining the morbidity and mortality of anterior cruciate ligament repair.

Treatment Duration: You will need to stick to a program for 4 to 6 months before you can return to full activity. The success of the surgery depends on how well you stick with your rehabilitation program.

Do’s/Don’ts: Don’t cheat on the rehab.

Common Myths: Bone-patellar tendon-bone is the strongest and stiffest graft. Bone-patellar tendon-bone (BPTB) is one-half the strength of double-looped semitendinosus and gracilis (DLSTG). The literature concludes that the double-looped semitendinosus and gracilis is the strongest and stiffest graft.

Arthroscopic Repairs
What is it: Knee arthroscopy is a minimally invasive technique that allows orthopedic surgeons to assess – and in most cases, treat – a range of conditions affecting the knee joint. During the procedure, the orthopedic surgeon makes small incisions or portals in the affected joint, and then inserts a tiny camera and fiber optics to light the interior space. Pictures obtained with the camera are then projected onto a screen in the operating suite.

Important Facts: Injuries to both the ACL and the menisci are common, particularly in athletes. Statistics show that more than 60% of patients diagnosed with an ACL tear also have a torn meniscus. A gender specific difference in ACL injuries among young female athletes has been demonstrated in recent years. Females are 2 to 6 times more likely to tear their ACL than their male cohorts, depending upon the sport.

Statistics: The general success rate following ACL reconstruction is 85 to 90%.

Treatment Duration: Recovery time from an ACL reconstruction varies, with a period from about 6 to 9 months representing an average time required before the athlete returns to collision sports.

Do’s/Don’ts: Don’t R.I.C.E.

Common Myths: Arthroscopy is surgery, the myth that athletes have been fed is that a scope can find out the problem and solve it. Nothing could be farther from the truth for the average sports injury. All the arthroscope can do is look at the tissue.

Arthroscopy: The Quickest Route to an Athletic Injury — The easiest and most overt way athletes are injured is not from a cheap shot from an opponent, but by one of their supposed allies, the arthroscope. The arthroscope is capable of producing more irreversible damage than the most vicious opponent produces. The damage is, however, often masked by the incredible feeling of vitality following the procedure.

WHAT IS THE M.EA.T. PROTOCOL? Most athletes after a soft tissue injury to such structures as tendons or ligaments are told to rest, ice, compress, and elevate the area. This is the infamous RICE treatment. It is taught in every medical school and practiced in every hospital across the country. Prolo Your Pain Away! was the first book to expose how wrong this treatment is for newly injured ligaments and tendons. M.E.A.T. stands for movement, exercise, analgesics and therapy. This is the pneumotic that should replace R.I.C.E.

Total Knee Replacements
What is it: Replacing arthritic joints with artificial components.

Important Facts: The primary indication for total knee arthroplasty is to relieve pain caused by severe arthritis. The pain should be significant and disabling.

Knee replacement patients tend to remain active 20 years after their surgery, despite some age-related declines, according to a new survey of 128 patients.

Statistics: Approximately 130,000 knee replacements are performed every year in the United States.

The age and gender-adjusted incidence per 100,000 person-years significantly increased from 1971 to 2003, representing a greater than 400% increase in the incidence of total knee replacement (as compared with a 55% increase in total hip replacement during the same period).

It is projected that the number of primary total knee replacements will increase from 450,400 to 3.48 million by 2030, compared with a growth in the number of primary total hip replacements from 208,600 to 572,100 during the same interval.

Do’s/Don’ts: Position your knee comfortably as you go about your daily activities. Walk and perform range-of-motion exercises every day. Use an ice pack if your knee begins to swell. Elevate your leg one hour twice a day if your knee, calf, ankle or foot begins to swell. Compression stockings above the knee can be purchased at any medical supply store. At home, you can use a grab bar or shower chair for added safety, comfort, support and stability

Common Myths: Myth: A patient with knee replacement does not regain mobility by at least 6 months post-surgery and will walk with a walker. Fact: A patient with Knee surgery who undergoes quality physiotherapy post knee replacement generally walks independently within the first two weeks of rehabilitation.

Myth: Another myth arises because off the name of the procedure. The name total knee replacement is a misnomer. The knee of the patient is not totally removed and replaced with an artificial joint. Fact: In the ‘total knee replacement’ surgery, the knee is not replaced. It is only ‘resurfaced’.

Meniscal Disorders
What is it: Knee meniscus disorders involve the medial meniscus and lateral meniscus, which are two pads of cartilage in the knee between the femoral and tibial condyles (the joint surfaces of the femur and tibia). The most common disorder is a tear of the meniscus.

Important Facts: The outcome of meniscectomy is usually good, if the individual does not have underlying joint disease such as osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis or instability from ligament damage. Most individuals can return to previous activities, including athletics.

Statistics: Statistics show that about 61 of 100,000 people experience an acute tear of the meniscus.

Treatment Duration: Conservative treatment may include a compression bandage, a removable knee immobilizer, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for relief of pain and swelling and quadriceps exercises.

Do’s/Don’ts: Standing and walking may need to be limited temporarily. Squatting, kneeling and crawling may need to be limited permanently.

Common Myths: MRI’s are 100% accurate for meniscal tears. At the other extreme, MRIs can over read conditions: One of the most questionable practices in Radiology is the reporting of normal signal changes in meniscal cartilage as “tears”. In the early days of MR imaging, these signal changes were graded from I to III. Grade I and II tears do not represent changes visible to the naked eye. I was most shocked a few years ago when a radiologist showed me how he could simply dial in a Grade I or II “tear” by turning a knob on his MRI console!

Knee Arthritis
What is it: There are three basic types of arthritis that may affect the knee joint.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of knee arthritis. OA is usually a slowly progressive degenerative disease in which the joint cartilage gradually wears away. It most often affects middle-aged and older people.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory type of arthritis that can destroy the joint cartilage. RA can occur at any age. RA generally affects both knees.

Post-traumatic Arthritis

Post-traumatic arthritis can develop after an injury to the knee. This type of arthritis is similar to osteoarthritis and may develop years after a fracture, ligament injury, or meniscus tear.

Important Facts: Generally, the pain associated with arthritis develops gradually, although sudden onset is also possible.

The joint may become stiff and swollen, making it difficult to bend or straighten the knee.

Pain and swelling are worse in the morning or after a period of inactivity. Pain may also increase after activities such as walking, stair climbing, or kneeling.

The pain may often cause a feeling of weakness in the knee, resulting in a “locking” or “buckling.”

Statistics: Nearly 1 in 2 people may develop symptomatic knee OA by age 85 years.

Common Myths: MYTH: If your knee hurts, you should rest it as much as you can until the pain goes away. At one time, it was thought that people with OA should avoid exercise, because it would only add to joint damage. Today, though, research has shown that exercise is a crucial tool for helping keep OA under control

Knee Osteoarthritis
What is it: Also called “wear and tear” arthritis or degenerative joint disease, osteoarthritis (OA) is the progressive breakdown of the joints’ natural shock absorbers.

Important Facts: The symptoms of osteoarthritis tend to develop slowly. You may notice pain or soreness when you move certain joints or when you’ve been inactive for a prolonged period. The affected joints may also be stiff or creaky. Typically, osteoarthritis leads to morning stiffness that resolves in 30 minutes. When osteoarthritis affects the hands, some people develop bony enlargements in the fingers, which may or may not cause pain.

Statistics: More than 40 million people in the United States have the disease. By 2030, an estimated 20 percent of Americans — about 70 million people — will have passed their 65th birthday and will be at risk of developing osteoarthritis.

Treatment Duration: There is no treatment to stop the erosion of cartilage in the joints, but there are ways to improve joint function. One of these is physical therapy to increase flexibility and strengthen the muscles around the affected joints. The therapist may also apply hot or cold therapies such as compresses to relieve pain.

Do’s/Don’ts: When osteoarthritis flares up, many patients find relief with over-the-counter pain and anti-inflammatory medication, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen. Pain-relieving creams or sprays can also help when applied directly to the sore area. If pain persists despite the use of pills or creams, your doctor may suggest an injection of steroids or hyaluronans directly into the joint.

If you’re overweight, one of the most effective ways to relieve pain in the knee or hip joints is to shed a few pounds. Even modest weight loss has been shown to reduce symptoms of osteoarthritis by easing the strain on weight-bearing joints. Losing weight not only cuts down on pain, but may also reduce long-term joint damage.

Keep joints healthy by keeping them moving. The more you move, the less stiffness you’ll have. Whether you’re reading, working, or watching TV, change positions often. Take breaks from your desk or your chair and move around.

Common Myths: Many arthritis experts believe that stretching is the most important type of exercise. Try to stretch daily but at least three times a week. However, it’s important that you don’t stretch cold muscles. Do a light warm up before stretching to loosen up the joints and the ligaments, and tendons around them.

Knee Cap Disorders (Patello-Femoral Syndrome, etc.)

What is it: This clinical conundrum is often aptly named “The Black Hole of Orthopaedics”, implying that no single explanation or therapeutic approach has yet fully clarified this problem. The primary factor differentiating this clinical problem from other knee conditions is its inherent subjectivity. Anterior knee pain, or patellofemoral pain, is pain in the front of the knee which is often made worse by sitting for prolonged periods, stair climbing or any activity which involves bending the knee. It is often aggravated by sport.

Important Facts: The origin of patellofemoral pain can be directly traced to supraphysiological mechanical loading and mechanical or chemical irritation of nerve endings. Even activities of daily living can become supraphysiologic. This syndrome is caused by an irritation or damage to the undersurface of the patella, or patellofemoral articulating surfaces, often inappropriately called chondromalacia patella.

“Runner’s knee” is a popular description among runners, of course, and they do get it more often than anyone else. But it is not a good term to use, because there are at least a half dozen other conditions that could be meant by it, especially iliotibial band syndrome. And of course it excludes other people who get the condition — all those people with cyclist’s knees and hiker’s knees, for instance!

Statistics: Studies have shown that the so-called patellofemoral pain syndrome comprises up to 50% overuse injuries. Almost 40% of pro cyclists will get anterior knee pain in any given year, but runners are by far the most numerous victims, and often the most frustrated ones.

Treatment Duration: nonsurgical management continues to be the mainstay of treatment for Patellofemoral pain syndrome. Historically this has involved strengthening the quadriceps muscle, in particular the vastus medialis oblique muscle.

Do’s/Don’ts: You should try to find good professional help, but you’ll need to be informed when you do it or you can easily waste a lot of time and money on dubious therapies.

Common Myths: “Stay active” is one of the most common recommendations — but it may be the worst therapy of all for patellofemoral pain. It’s just knee jerk advice, given by professionals unfamiliar with the nature of PFPS.

Treating PFPS like arthritis is a basic misunderstanding of the condition. Family doctors usually do this, but they are generally poorly informed about PFPS.

Hip strengthening is a new treatment — almost fashionable — but it is far from proven and has been over-hyped since about 2005.

Oschgood Schlatter’s Disease
What is it: Osgood Schlatters disease is a very common cause of knee pain in children and young athletes usually between the ages of 10 and 15. It occurs due to a period of rapid growth, combined with a high level of sporting activity. Though it’s one of the most common causes of knee pain in adolescents, it’s really not a disease, but an overuse injury. OSD can be quite painful, but usually resolves itself within 12 to 24 months.

Important Facts: These changes result in a pulling force from the patella tendon, on to the tibial tuberosity (bony protrusion at the top of the shin). This area then becomes inflamed, painful and swollen. This is frequent in younger people due to the remaining softness in their bones (from childhood).

OSD usually strikes active adolescents around the beginning of their growth spurts, the approximately 2-year period during which they grow most rapidly. Growth spurts can begin any time between the ages of 8 and 13 for girls, or 10 and 15 for boys. OSD has been more common in boys, but as more girls participate in sports, this is changing.

Statistics: It typically strikes children from 11 to 15. One study suggests that 13% of all athletes suffer from OS disease.

Treatment Duration: OSD can be quite painful, but usually resolves itself within 12 to 24 months.

Do’s/Don’ts: This injury needs rest if it is to heal properly.

Only do as much exercise as it will allow without causing pain.

Weight bearing exercise will make it worse. Keep your sessions few and high quality rather than train every day.

Apply ice or cold therapy to the knee regularly throughout the day to reduce pain and inflammation and particularly following activity or sport. Ice should be applied at least three times a day for 10 to 15 minutes.

Do not get steroid injections as this may cause weakening of the infrapatellar ligament, scaring and fat necrosis.

Common Myths: not found

Knee Fractures
What is it: A knee fracture can be a break of any of the bones around the knee–Femur (thigh bone), Patella (kneecap), and Tibia (shin bone)

Important Facts: There are many causes of a fracture around the knee. A very common cause is a car accident. A blow to the knee during almost any contact sport can also result in a fracture. Falls from heights or even sudden indirect forces, such as stumbling down stairs, can cause a fracture.

Statistics: Patellar fractures account for about 1% of all fractures. They are most common in people who are 20 to 50 years old. Men are twice as likely as women to fracture the kneecap.

Treatment Duration: Treatment for knee fractures is based on the severity of the fracture and the bone involved. Usually fractures of the femur require some form of surgical stabilization. Mild fractures of the patella can sometimes be treated with immobilization. Displaced patellar fractures, however, require surgery. Finally, tibia fractures are highly variable and need individual assessment prior to developing a treatment plan. Most surgery involves the placement of screws, plates, wires or rods.

Do’s/Don’ts: Apply a sterile dressing to open wounds. Don’t move the patient unless the injured area is completely immobilized. Don’t attempt to straighten a misshapen bone or joint or to change its position. Don’t test a misshapen bone or joint for loss of function.

Common Myths: Myth 1: Severe intra-articular fractures should be treated in minimal fashion to leave bone stock for later surgery. In tibial plateau fractures, he noted, a common expectation is that the patient will ultimately need a total knee arthroplasty (TKA), so the injury is addressed with a midline incision and double plating. “This is bad thinking that will lead to bad results,” Dr. Ostrum said. In one series of almost 14,000 TKAs, just 0.0045 percent was subsequent to tibial plateau fractures.

Knee Contractures after Surgery
What is it: After total knee replacement surgery, some people develop joint stiffness, which is also called a joint contracture. Contractures cause the envelope of the knee (called the capsule) to stiffen and become rigid so the patient can no longer move their knee the way they used to. After stretching and other exercises, only a surgery can try and divide or remove the contracture.

Important Facts: Any decrease in the normal range of motion is designated a contracture. Contractures may be anticipated side effects of necessary treatment, such as a knee contracture after plaster a total knee replacement.

Contractures probably begin forming within eight hours, as illustrated by the morning stiffness after a night’s sleep, but this can be reversed by a single range-of-motion exercise.

Statistics: In a review of the literature, the authors state that stiffness occurs in roughly 6% of cases, making it the most common knee replacement surgery complication.

Treatment Duration: Manipulation of the knee by the surgeon under anesthesia is generally successful when used within the first three months after surgery. After this period, more aggressive surgical options should be considered since manipulation can result in fracture or soft-tissue damage.

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